Renovation Has Begun!

CCA PRESENTS: Popular Music of the Gas Light Era

The CCA will present "Popular Music of the Gas Light Era," a free concert by pianist and vocalist John Root, at 2:00 pm on July 3rd at All Saints' Episcopal Church, 10 Billerica Road.  This program is supported by a grant from the Chelmsford Cultural Council, a local agency.  This concert is the first event to be presented by the CCA at another venue while our home is being renovated.


Popular Music of the Gas Light Era (1890 - 1920) features a delightful repertoire of instrumental and vocal musical styles from the turn of the previous century.  Everyone is invited to sing along and to experience the range of feelings evoked by this music.


The songs' lyrics offer insights into the customs and values of these bygone days.  Audiences also learn how American's ethnic and racial diversity created unique musical styles that continue to delight and inspire audiences around the world.


For over 30 years, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist John Root has been presenting programs featuring popular music from the first half of the twentieth century for audiences of all ages throughout New England.


Please join us for this wonderful start to the 4th of July festivities in Chelmsford!

Contest for Tree Sculpture for Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Chelmsford - 2011

Boston has ice sculptures for their First Night. Chelmsford will have a tree sculpture for our July Fourth Country Fair in 2011.

Jesse "The Machine" Green, http://TheMachineJesseGreen.com, will be bringing his chainsaw to Chelmsford on July 3rd! Come watch him carve a sculpture for the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail on the lawn next to the Chelmsford Center for the Arts at Old Town Hall in Chelmsford Center, http://www.chelmsfordcenterforthearts.org. What will he be sculpting? Where will it be installed on the trail? You can help with ideas and win bragging rights by submitting the winning entry using the form below. The sculpture will be carved from a tree trunk. It will be around 6 feet tall. The subject should have something to do with Chelmsford. The deadline for submissions is April 15, 2011. Winners will be announced on June 15, 2011.

Click Here to Enter Sculpture Contest

UPDATE ON WINTERFEST (Note CANCELLATION)

Due to illness of the performer, the Music of the Gas Light Era program originally scheduled for 2:00 pm SATURDAY has been cancelled.  

You are invited to attend the Cultural Council Photo Exhibit from 11 am to 4 pm on SATURDAY and the reception from 2 pm to 4 pm on SUNDAY.

While you are in the center, please visit the Chelmsford Fire Department from noon to 4 pm SATURDAY for a hot drink and a tour of the building.  

Join Us for Our Act I FINALE!

Join us for our finale events before taking an "intermission" for renovation.  We close our doors on February 15 and will reopen in January 2012 with a fully renovated building complete with kitchen, elevator, new performance space, theatrical lighting, cinema and more! 

image copyright Gregory John Maichack




















Feb. 7 , 7:00 pm  Adult Workshop in Pastel Painting with Award-winning Gregory John Maichack.  Free hands-on workshop, "The Pastel Art of Georgia O'Keeffe: Moern American Abstraction" with all supplies provided.  Become inspired to create beautiful pastel paintings by exploring America's foremost modernist pastel painter of flowers. Focusing on the calla lily, participants work in tandem with the artist. Also, topics such as O'Keeffe's landscapes, shells and more will be covered.  From sheer beginners with no experience to advanced students, all will experiment with hundreds of Mr.Maichack's pastels learning pastel handling techniques O'Keeffe used in her pastel art.  All materials will be provided, including an array of professional grade pastels, pastel pencils,Rembrandt pastels, and assorted Canson pastel paper.
This workshop is supported in part from a grant from the Chelmsford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

February 5 & 6    Chelmsford WinterFest Events:


Annual Photography Competition sponsored by the Chelmsford Cultural Council in the CCA Gallery.   Feb. 5, 11 am to 4 pm; Reception Feb. 6, 2 pm to 4 pm.

February 12, 7:30 pm    The Wendee Glick Quartet: "Wine, Chocolate and Jazz."  Ticketed event: $15 in advance, $20 at the door.  (Send checks payable to "Wendee Glick", 19 Green Heron Lane, Nashua NH 03062.  Please include your name.)    

February 13, 3:00 pm  GALA CABARET FINALE before the CCA's "Intermission"

Illumination Opera Presents Favorite Opera Scenes.  Tickets $15 Adults, $10 Seniors/Students  purchase online at www.mktix.com/ioc or at the door.  Relaxed Cabaret seating.